[04/28/05 - 12:00 AM]NBC Makes Summer a Sweet Reality with Premieres of Six Original Alternative Series

[via press release from NBC]

NBC MAKES SUMMER A SWEET REALITY WITH PREMIERES OF SIX ORIGINAL ALTERNATIVE SERIES

Programs Include Return of "The Biggest Loser" and "Average Joe 4: The Joes Strike Back" as well as Series Premieres of "I Want to Be a Hilton," "The Law Firm," "Meet Mister Mom" and "Tommy Lee Goes to College"

BURBANK, Calif. -- April 28, 2005 -- NBC gets real with Summer this year with a lineup of six original reality programs that includes the returns of "The Biggest Loser" (Tuesday, August 9) and "Average Joe 4: The Joes Strike Back" (Tuesday, June 28), and the series premieres of "I Want to Be a Hilton" (two-hour debut on Tuesday, June 21), "The Law Firm" (two-hour premiere on Wednesday, July 27), "Meet Mister Mom" (Wednesday, August 3) and "Tommy Lee Goes to College" (Tuesday, August 9).

"NBC maintains its ongoing commitment to programming year-round with original entertainment that centers on presenting increasingly fresh and compelling alternative formats," said Plestis.

Following are format descriptions for NBC's six original summer reality series in order of premiere dates.

I WANT TO BE A HILTON (premiering with consecutive episodes on Tuesday, June 21, 8-9 p.m. ET and 9-10 p.m. ET; regular time Tuesdays, 9-10 p.m. ET) ? "I Want to Be a Hilton" is a fresh, humorous -- and sometimes poignant ode to the glamour and style of New York as reflected by its host and mentor Kathy Hilton, matriarch of one of the most ubiquitous families in the world. The unscripted series charts the foibles and flirtations encountered by 14 eccentric young contestants as they vie for the opportunity to live the glamorous caviar-and-champagne lifestyle. Immersing them in the New York society scene, Hilton educates the contestants in the do's-and-don'ts of haute couture, etiquette and even how to handle an unforgiving press. At the conclusion of each episode, Hilton eliminates the candidates based on the results of weekly challenges. The finalist wins an extravagant prize package and the opportunity to live the high life, a la a Hilton, for a year. The series is produced by Endemol USA and the executive producers are Paul Buccieri, Jason Hervey, Rick Hilton and Danny Salles.

AVERAGE JOE 4: THE JOES STRIKE BACK (premiering Tuesday, June 28, 8-9 p.m.) The newest and boldest installment of NBC's popular relationship series about average-looking guys with big hearts and great personalities hoping to win the love of a beautiful woman returns with more twists, turns and conflicts than ever before. This time, stunning 26-year-old red-headed beauty Anna is the alluring bachelorette. Born in Poland and raised in Las Vegas, Anna has a degree in business administration and is now a model and entrepreneur. Once again, the unsuspecting model thought she was on a traditional dating show only to be surprised by a swarm of average Joes, including a tool salesman, a pest control guy and a computer-science student pursuing his Ph.D.

In the six-episode series, the 18 enthusiastic average Joes hope to woo and win her over with their charm and personalities. But first, they'll have to navigate through an all new series of dramatic twists and turns, outrageous surprises ? and their toughest competition yet ? seven strikingly handsome jocks who are cocky and confident that Anna will only have eyes for them. Also included are a romantic getaway to exotic Tahiti, surprise visitors for both the Joes and Anna, and the return of three of the most popular former "Average Joes" in the premiere. The series is a production of NBC Universal Television Studio and Krasnow Productions. Stuart Krasnow ("Average Joe," "Weakest Link") and Andrew Glassman ("Average Joe," "Average Joe: Hawaii") are the executive producers.

THE LAW FIRM (Wednesdays, 9-10 p.m. ET; premiering on July 27 with consecutive episodes) -- "The Law Firm" is an eight-episode alternative drama series from multiple Emmy Award-winning producer David E. Kelley that features real lawyers competing against each other while trying actual court cases with in front of real judges and juries -- resulting in outcomes that are final, legal and binding for the parties. Premier trial attorney and legal analyst Roy Black is the managing partner of "The Law Firm," which is executive-produced by Kelley ("The Practice," "Ally McBeal," "L.A. Law"), David Garfinkle ("Surreal Life," "Blind Date"), Jay Renfroe ("Surreal Life," "Blind Date"), Jonathan Pontell ("Ally McBeal," "Boston Public") and Robert Breech ("The Practice," "L.A. Law").

As managing partner, Black will decide which of the 12 "legal eagles" will be eliminated in each episode. Smart, strong-willed and fiercely competitive, the attorneys work together in different teams each week, battling tight deadlines, intense pressure and even each other as they strategize, prepare and try their cases. The compelling cases include First Amendment issues, wrongful death cases and neighbor disputes, among others. Distinguished judges will decide some of the cases, while a jury determines the others. In the end, the top attorney will win a prize of $250,000. "The Law Firm" is produced by Renegade 83 Productions in association with David E. Kelley Productions and 20th Century Fox Television.

MEET MISTER MOM (premiering Wednesday, August 3, 8-9 p.m. ET) - Under-appreciated Moms are given a surprise luxury vacation while Dad is left to run the household and mind the kids for a week in the hilarious new comedy reality show "Meet Mister Mom." This show is every Mom's fantasy and every Mom's revenge. Each episode showcases the comedy that ensues when two very busy families realize just how irreplaceable Mom is in their daily lives. Humorously told from the children's perspectives, every episode will also include valuable information for families on how to better manage their lives together.

Soon after the game begins, the Moms are whisked away to a spa for a week of exciting adventures and rejuvenation, leaving Dad and the kids to juggle the daily tasks of the household. The Dads from each family compete head-to-head to see who can best handle the pressure of keeping the family together despite a jam-packed schedule. All the while, the Moms are secretly watching the madness on closed-circuit TV.

The series is being produced by Reveille LLC, Full Circle Entertainment and James Bruce Productions. Ben Silverman, Robert Riesenberg and James Bruce serve as executive producers.

THE BIGGEST LOSER (premiering Tuesday, August 9, 8-9:30 p.m. ET) ? The first reality series in which everybody "loses," "The Biggest Loser" offers severely overweight participants the opportunity to undergo a radical physical makeover without any kind of surgery. Caroline Rhea ("Sabrina, the Teenage Witch") returns to host the second season of the series that challenges and encourages overweight contestants as they compete for a grand prize of $250,000 in a safe and recommended manner through comprehensive diet and exercise. The life-altering and one-hour reality series gathers contestants from across the country to face real life temptations while provided with approved weight-loss skills and resources to help them transform their bodies, health -- and ultimately, their lives.

A twist in how the competition is "weighted" this season will be the battle of the sexes created when the 14 hopeful yet strong-willed contestants discover themselves divided into the red team (women) and the blue team (men). Together they'll face challenges, temptations, weigh-ins and eliminations -- until the final contestant remains to claim the title of "the biggest loser." All contestants work out under the supervision of physicians and nutritionists, in addition to the professional trainers Jillian Michael (red team) and Bob Harper (blue team) assigned to each team.

"The Biggest Loser" is a production of Reveille, 25/7 Productions, 3 Ball Productions and NBC Universal Television Studio. Ben Silverman (NBC's "The Office," "The Restaurant"), Dave Broome ("Radio City Music Awards," "Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope"), J.D. Roth ("For Love or Money," "Endurance"), John Foy ("For Love or Money," "Endurance") and Todd A. Nelson ("For Love or Money," "Endurance") are the executive producers.

TOMMY LEE GOES TO COLLEGE (premiering Tuesday, August 9, 9:30-10 p.m. ET) -- The University of Nebraska at Lincoln (UNL) welcomes a motley new student to its campus ? notorious rocker Tommy Lee. At 19, Lee formed "M?tley Cr?e," sending him on a meteoric rise to fame and fortune ? who had time for college when Lee was busy touring the world and living the fast life for two glorious decades? Cut to Tommy Lee today -- twice divorced and a single father of two boys. Most men in their midlife crisis buy sports cars and date young women. Lee wants something different, something money can't buy ? he wants academic redemption. So he heads off to UNL, but it won't be class as usual when the new student is Tommy Lee. Each of the six half-hour episodes will find Lee floundering in a new fish-out-of-water situation ? quintessential collegiate challenges such as finding his roommate Matt, trying out for the marching band and cramming for finals in true Tommy Lee fashion with his hot tutor, Natalie, in tow.

The series is from executive producers Eddie October ("Bands Reunited"), BT (composer "Monster"), Richard Bishop and Brad Wyman ("Monster"). "Tommy Lee Goes to College" is distributed by NBC Universal Television Distribution. The series is co-executive-produced by Mike Nichols ("Dismissed"). Tommy Lee and Carl Stubner are producers. October directs the series.

From executive producers Eddie October ("Bands Reunited"), BT (Composer "Monster"), Richard Bishop and Brad Wyman ("Monster"), "Tommy Lee Goes to College" is distributed by NBC Studios, Inc. The show is co-executive produced by Mike Nichols ("Dismissed"). Tommy Lee and Carl Stubner are producers.